Eleven academics presented draft papers on the role of the military in Middle Eastern countries at a conference held by the Carnegie Middle East Center this week. Monday's workshop, entitled "The Military and State in the Middle East: Political, Economic,
New security measures in response to earthquakes and other natural disasters were discussed during a coordination meeting held in the Southern coastal city of Tyre on Tuesday. The meeting included town mayors, social figures and representatives from organizations such as
Plans for a new Practical Training Center for the Judicial Police were unveiled in Beirut on Tuesday as part of a joint effort between the European Union (EU) and the Interior Security Forces (ISF). The center, designed to teach investigation
Norwegian Ambassador Aud Lise Norheim has presented certificates of completion to students of two vocational training courses funded and implemented by Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The event was held on Monday
Almost two years after taking part in efforts to clean up fuel oil spilled from the Jiyyeh power plant by Israeli bombardment during the summer 2006 war, the Bahr Loubnan environmental group is back at work - on the same
The Lebanese Army and Civil Defense units put out a series of forest fires which erupted across Lebanon on Tuesday. The fires effected the areas of Barjeh and Roumieh in Mount Lebanon; Ansarieh, Nejarieh, Bnaafoul, Anqoun, Kfarmilki al-Mari, Haboush, Nabatieh,
Gaza militants fired a mortar yesterday just hours after Israel opened crossing points. The Israeli military said a mortar round struck an uninhabited area of southern Israel without causing casualties or damage. Israel has responded to previous attacks by Palestinian
Palestinian security officials said they were investigating the incident. Moghani, who was standing a few feet away from his car when it exploded, was not injured in the blast outside his house. "This is an assassination attempt. I do not
The New York-based human rights group, together with 23 other organisations, sounded the alarm over Iran's policy of executing those under 18, noting that four other Iranians are scheduled to be put to death this summer. The minors in question
Abdullah was to be the first Arab head of state to travel to Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003. The trip would have further eased Iraq's diplomatic isolation from its Sunni Arab neighbours. "We were informed by the Jordanians
The security is there, it's much better, it's going to continue to evolve," Adm Mike Mullen said yesterday in an Associated Press interview after a walking tour of this recent combat zone. But if local political reform falters "or the
Alcohol is openly for sale once more in Baghdad. All over the Iraqi capital, drink stores, which closed their doors in early 2006 when sectarian strife was raging, have slowly begun to reopen. Two years ago, al-Qa'ida militants were burning
It was the first time that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has explicitly and publicly called for a withdrawal timetable — an idea opposed by President Bush. He offered no details. But his national security adviser, Mouwaffak al-Rubaie, told The Associated
